About
- Established in 1997, the Historical Novel Society is an international literary society devoted to promotion and advocacy for the genre of historical fiction.
Membership
- Historical Novel Society members include authors, readers, librarians, editors and industry professionals – membership is entirely open, and anyone enthusiastic about the genre is welcome.
Events
- Our worldwide membership loves to meet. Many travel thousands of miles to attend our conferences in person; many more enjoy our virtual options from home. Others form member connections in their area through regular Local Chapter meet-ups. Discover what’s on with conferences, Local and Virtual Chapters, and more.
Book Reviews
- Our exclusive, members-only print magazine, the Historical Novels Review, publishes reviews of hundreds of historical fiction books each quarter, in addition to features and columns. Become a member to receive the magazine and enjoy all our other benefits.
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Articles
- We publish articles in our members-only print magazine, Historical Novels Review, as well as web features exclusive to this site. All are original pieces, commissioned by our Features Editors based on topics of interest to members – interviews with historical fiction authors, publishers, and agents; explorations of novels and subgenres; guides, and regular columns on historical fiction market news, debut authors, and more. Articles are written by vetted contributors, most of whom are Society members. If you’re a member interested in joining the team, Contact Us.
Awards
- HNS Awards have helped discover authors and launch their careers (e.g., Michel Faber, Ruth Downie, Nikki Marmery, Hilary Green, Elizabeth Macneal, and many more) and provided vital support for others. Our ARA Award is one of the most generous of all literary prizes. If you’d like to partner to sponsor an award, Contact Us.
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Patricia O’Sullivan

The Secret of the Sealed Room: A Mystery of Young Benjamin Franklin

By Bailey MacDonald - Published 2010

Genres:

Fourteen-year-old Patience Martin is unhappily indentured to the sick and demanding widow Abedela Worth. But when Mrs. Worth dies unexpectedly, instead of freeing ...Read Review

The Gentleman Poet: A Novel of Love, Danger, and Shakespeare’s The Tempest

By Kathryn Johnson - Published 2010

Genres:

Adventure

After a violent storm separates their battered ship from a fleet carrying settlers and provisions to Jamestown Colony, the one hundred and fifty ...Read Review

Burning Horses: A Hungarian Life Turned Upside Down

By Agatha Hoff - Published 2010

Genres:

Biographical Fiction Literary

Based on the memories of a World War II survivor, Burning Horses is the true story of Éva Leopold, a girl who enjoys ...Read Review

The Secret History of Costaguana

By Juan Gabriel Vásquez - Published 2010

Genres:

Literary

In 1904, Joseph Conrad published Nostromo, set in the fictitious South American republic of Costaguana, claiming that his information came from an equally fictitious ...Read Review

Daughter of Winter

By Pat Lowery Collins - Published 2010

Genres:

Children/Young Adult Western

Twelve-year-old Addie is alone. Her father has gone off to California with the Forty-Niners and her mother and brother have just died of ...Read Review

A Million Shades of Gray

By Cynthia Kadohata - Published 2010

Genres:

Children/Young Adult

Thirteen-year-old Y’Tin is interested in one thing: elephants. His goal is to be his village’s youngest elephant handler and to someday ...Read Review

The Rock and the River

By Kekla Magoon - Published 2009

Genres:

Children/Young Adult Historical Fantasy

There is an old story about a man who wanted immortality. The gods were willing to grant his request and gave him a ...Read Review

Heart of a Samurai

By Margi Preus - Published 2010

Genres:

Adventure Children/Young Adult

Son of a fisherman, 14-year-old Manjiro dreams of being a samurai. But after being rescued from a shipwreck by an American whaling vessel, ...Read Review